The unusual ruling only came to light in recent days but groundsmen around Germany are thought to have been carefully spray painting playing surfaces over the international break.

Bayern Munich have painted the Allianz Arena’s hallowed turf red for the visit of Augsburg, meaning that Carlo Ancelotti’s home side must now wear their away strip of black to ensure that his players can see their own team mates.

The other exception was for the Hertha Berlin-Hoffenheim game on Friday night since both clubs could not agree on which shade of blue paint to use.

Freiburg have wisely chosen to colour their pitch red rather than black so they will now wear their second strip of white. As Werder Bremen are set to wear green though, spectators with colour blindness have been advised to bring a friend.